Drive for encased switch devices



May 5, 1942. w. FRIES DRIVE FOR ENCASED SWITCH DEVICES Filed May 1 INVENTOR M zZ/w/w F7765, 4547 I I ATTORN WlTN ESSES:

Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE t naive roa ENCA'SED SWITCH DEVICES Wilhelm Fries, Berlin, Germany, assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Com pany, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 1, 1941, Serial No. 391,272v

In Germany January '25, 1940 4 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to switching devices and, more particularly, to drives for operating electric switches enclosed in openable casings.

In the case of capsuled or encased switching devices, operation by means of an actuating member mounted on the front side of the housing cover (front drive) is, in general, advantageous because with such an operating member, no separate space on the side of the housing is necessary for the operation. A numberof such capsuled switching devices, for example, automats, however, have, in general, a laterally mounted trip-free coupling. It is, therefore, necessary that the switching movement from the operating element to the trip-free coupling be deflected by 90. As a consequence, difficulties often arise particularly with reference to the distribution of the force, and particularly in the cases in'which it is necessary to use as simple as possible a drive consisting, for example, of levers.

An object of the invention is to satisfy not only the above-mentioned requirements, but, in addition, to provide a front drive in which there is always the same transferring or driving force independently of the instantaneous position of the levers.

To accomplish this object, the front drive, in accordance with the invention, requires only a small space, so that an extraordinary small, and therefore, inexpensive switch housing may be used. The subject matter of the invention further makes available a particularly easy switching operation and a propitious transformation relationship with the smallest movement through dead center. In addition, the drive, in accordance with the invention, provides that there be only a small frictional force and propitious distribution of the forces so that good structural materials, for example, alloy steels for the parts which are used up, may be dispensed with. Further, the invention makes possible the replacement of open switches for the capsuled switches by merely changing the driving parts and without changing the switches. This is accomplished, in accordance with the invention, by using as a transferring rod 2, claw-shaped levers with a plurality of teeth which move in planes at an angle to each other, particularly of 90.

A further possibility, in accordance with the invention, consists in so constructing the claws of the lever and so mounting them, that the cover may be removed or set on in the circuitclosed and circuit-open position of the switch, respectively, and that an actuation of the switch (01. 200-453) V by hand, even with the cover removecL is possime.

Consequently, the switch may be, without effort, controlled while its parts, when necessary, may be easily interchanged.

In the drawing, an exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Figure 1 shows a drive in side View, and Fig. 2 the drive in front View with a portion of the cover removed.

A single arm lever I, provided with a plurality of teeth or a tooth segment is mounted rotatably about the pin C on a trip-free coupling A mounted on the switching device. The free end of the lever I is constructed in the form of a claw. On the cover 8, and preferably within it, a single arm lever 2 or a tooth segment, which cooperates with the lever I, is mounted rotatably about the pin D. The end portion of the lever 2 is also constructed as a claw with a plurality of teeth and so mounted that the two claw-shaped end portions of levers I and 2 engage each other in the manner of gears, and thereby the planes of motion of the levers I and 2 form an angle such as with each other.

On the outer side of the cover 8, an actuating element 4, for example, in the form of a pivoting handle, is mounted rotatably by means of a bolt B. The movement of the actuating element 4 is transferred by means of a clip 3 also fixedly mounted on the bolt B and it produces the pivoting of the lever I about the pin C and thus the circuit closing and the circuit opening movements of the switch. To maintain the friction during the switching particularly smaller, the bolt 5, which moves in the slot in lever 2, and which is fastened to the clip 3, carries a roller 6. Between the lever 2 and the bolt 5 a tension spring I is so provided that it tends to hold the drive in one of its two end positions. The spring 1 is thus constructed as a double acting, deadcenter spring because it is relaxed in its center position. In the drawing, the levers I and 2 are shown in one of the end positions; in the opposite end position, the lever 2 has the position of its image with reference to the connecting lines BD of the points B and D in accordance with Fig. 2.

The front drive, in accordance with the invention, which operates in the manner of a gear, may be used for any desired capsuled switching apparatus, for example, that operated by hand, in particular, for automats, motor protective switches or the like.

The construction and the possibility of use of the invention are not exhausted by the examples mounted on the trip-free coupling and the other lever being mounted on the cover of the casing.

2. A front drive for an encased switching device'comprisingtwo levers having armsprovided with a plurality of intermeshing teeth which move in planes at an angle to each other, and a spring mounted on one of the levers to bias the drive toward either the circuit-closed or the circuit-open position. J a

3. A front drive for an encased switching device comprising, two levers'having arms provided with a plurality of intermeshing teeth which move in planes at an angle to each other, a spring mounted on one of the levers to bias the drive toward either the circuit-closed or the circuit-open position, and a clip for transmitting motion from an actuating member to one of the lever arms, said spring being connected between said clip and said lever arm.

4. A front drive for an encased switching device comprising, two levers having arms provided with a plurality of intermeshing teeth which move in planes at an angle to each other, a spring mounted on one of the levers to bias the drive toward either the circuit-closed or the circuitopen position, and a clip for transmitting motion from an actuating member to one of the lever arms, said spring being connected between said clip and said lever arm and aroller disposed between said clip and said lever arm.

WILHELM FRIES. 

